Small Car Recommendations-Car Bought :)

[xlxo]

Hello everyone, I do have an update: I made a choice and the winner is the Nissan Versa!

Finally, I ended up at Nissan and truly liked the Versa! A reminder is that I am coming from a 1990 Corolla. To me, the 2016 Versa was simpler and closer to what I am used to. safety-wise it was the first car I truly felt comfortable test driving and really from the beginning. Even the Cruze, I felt like I was driving a BIG car and just was not fully secure in it.

I'm going to research the Versa and then check out a few other dealers for best price. It would be the SV model. The car will be white, btw. The red versa was a dark, almost turning to brownish red. To me, a red car needs to be BRIGHT (think Santa's Sleigh or hey Mickey's shorts) RED

My latest vehicles are all "silver". Visible like white.... but also hides dust well.

BTW... some versa's come with 4 cameras for aroundview.... this really helps with parking in small spaces.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I'm glad you found something you like! I test drove the Versa and it drove fine, but I didn't care for the interior. I thought it was interesting that there was a Versa model with manual roll down Windows. I didn't think that was an option anymore.

The base model Ford Focus (S model) has power front windows, and crank windows in back. That one had me shaking my head.

 

[robinb]

OP, you are a QUICK decider! I would still be driving cars and mulling things over. It may be too late, but consider getting purchasing information through True Car https://www.truecar.com/#/ . I used them when I bought my car 2 years ago and they saved me a LOT of money on my Prius V. It's completely free. The only downside is that you will get dealers calling you but they stop once you tell them you bought somewhere else.

The base model Ford Focus (S model) has power front windows, and crank windows in back. That one had me shaking my head.

(1) Your passengers don't need to drive with their knee while rolling up the window by hand. BTDT, my first car had manual windows and I had to drive through a toll booth twice a day, every day prior to an EZ-Pass type system.
(2) It gives them something cheap to "upgrade".
(3) You're right ... it's dumb!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

xlxo, thanks for the camera shots. I don't think the base Versa that I'd be getting comes with one, it is extra, I can find out how much. I do know that when I was driving the Cruze yesterday, it did have a camera, and it didn't really help me (it was very cool) because I still felt like I had a blind spot due to the higher backs of the seats and also at that time I knew there was parallel parked a truck very close to me so I passed on that.

Wow, Gumbo 4X4, that is so strange! Makes no sense to me at all! I think it would discourage passengers, too!

Robinb, lol, I really was not in such a hurry to get a new car. I think for me, when I was test driving all the cars and feeling like I did have a blind spot or the car was just so fancy, the Versa was all the more a positive experience. That would be no fun to roll down and up the windows twice a day, all the way like that. Also, when it rained or was even a little humid or even hot, the windows would stick more, making them harder to open. I won't miss that or especially the no a/c!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Quick Happy Memorial Day (my sincere thanks to all of you and your families who have served our country) update: to say I didn't abandon this thread. I decided to take more time to figure out about financing options on the car and aim to get it 4th of July weekend. I'm also hoping at that time there may be more incentives (for more of summer) then there were right now. So picture of new car to come in July. Thank you again, to all for your help! God Bless.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Bumping this up to ask a related question. I still am planning to keep a close eye out on car ads this week ahead. I am wondering if it would be smarter to try and wait until December. Does anyone work at a car dealership? I did some Googling and it sounds like some car dealers once December comes are much more determined to sell the current years model so that in January, there are only the new year's model for sale. Is this accurate? I realize may vary by area and also dealership. Thanks everyone and keep cool out there! P.S. I will post an update and picture once I do get my new car

 

[xlxo]

I am wondering if it would be smarter to try and wait until December

After August.... dealers get more determined each month to liquidate the previous years model to free up space for newer vehicles.

One thing to pay attention to is AVAILABILITY. Do you want a certain color or trim? By December.... popular colors may be harder to get and you need to travel to more distant dealerships look for it.

I like to walk in 5 days before month end.... sales is more likely to try and keep you happy.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thanks, xlxo! I should have said, I probably won't be waiting until December because a car would be very helpful this summer, it was just something I was considering. I also have not looked at/test driven any cars in a month or so. Back in May, I truly did like the Versa, it was the first car I felt comfortable driving (remember I am coming from a 1990)! A lot of cars these days have fancy (to me) extras that I just don't need. I am going back to Nissan next day or so to test drive Versa again. I think this car (sedan version)comes in 4 versions, with only the last 2 having power windows and doors. From some Googling it sounds like there is a few thousand dollar difference for those power windows (SV model) I have no clue, I am not well car-versed, whether it is an option to add onto a base model. Colors, I'd want white. Nissan Red, to me, is not RED (think Mickey or Santa I'm thinking white might be a dash cooler out here in the hot summer.

I'm also going to take another look at the Chevy Sonic and Cruze. I did test drive both of them and felt the Sonic did not drive smoothly though better than the Ford Fiesta. Cruze I didn't quite feel 100% comfortable driving, it felt bigger to me and had fancier mirrors and stuff. Honestly I liked Chevy because it was bright red and sentimental my first car was a Nova and my Grandpa's.

I sincerely just want a safe, reliable car with a wonderful a/c! I don't know a Bluetooth from a Green tooth or need many plugs for electronics type thing, simple.

Thursday and Friday, going to take close look at the newspaper ads and also online. Go from there.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Good luck!!

 

[xlxo]

@flyingdumbo127: Ask the dealer if they have a versa with "aroundview" for your test drive... the extra safety feature may be a deciding factor.

I used to love white vehicles.... however, I'm now leaning towards silver on my latest vehicles. Easier to keep clean between car washes.